business, it is necessary to have the whole before us.--You need not fear
to shock my feelings, sir. I wish always to see men and things as they
are." Mr. Falconer still hesitating, and turning over the leaves--"As my
friend in this business, Mr. Falconer," continued his lordship, "you will
comprehend that the essential point is to put me as soon as possible in
possession of the facts--then I can decide, and act. If it will not fatigue
you too much, I wish to go through these papers before I sleep."

"Fatigue! Oh, my lord, I am not in the least--cannot be fatigued! But the
fact is, I cannot go on; for the next pages I have not yet deciphered--the
cipher changes here."

Lord Oldborough looked much disappointed and provoked; but, after a few
minutes' pause, calmly said, "What time will it take, sir, to decipher the
remainder?"

The commissioner protested he did not know--could not form an idea--he and
his son had spent many hours of intense labour on the first papers before
he could make out the first cipher--now this was a new one, probably more
difficult, and whether he could make it out at all, or in what time, he
was utterly unable to say. Lord Oldborough replied, "Let us understand one
another at once, Commissioner Falconer, if you please. My maxim, and the
maxim of every man in public life is, or ought to be--Serve me, and I will
serve you. I have no pretensions to Mr. Falconer's friendship on any other
grounds, I am sensible; nor on any other terms can he have a claim to
whatever power of patronage I possess. But I neither serve nor will be
served by halves: my first object is to make myself master, as soon as
possible, of the contents of the papers in your hands; my next to secure
your inviolable secrecy on the whole transaction."